NSW: More evacuations overnight from bushfire areas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2001
NSW: More evacuations overnight from bushfire areas

SYDNEY, Dec 28 AAP - About 400 scouts were evacuated overnight from an area south-west
of Sydney as bushfires continued to rage around the state.

Fires and backburning forced the evacuation of the scouts and leaders from a camping
ground at Cataract Dam, on Appin Road, between Wollongong and Campbelltown.

The move comes ahead of what is predicted to be a horror weekend weather-wise in NSW
with forecasters tipping temperatures of up to 40 degrees and more strong winds.

About 150 homes have been destroyed and Sydney remains ringed by as many as 100 bushfires,
most of them thought to be the work of arsonists.

Already, three teenagers have been arrested by police after allegedly being caught
lighting three small bushfires at Shellharbour, south of Wollongong.

Police today will decide what action to take against the 15-year-olds.

The major concern continued to be a fire with a flank of 25km which was burning in
the lower Blue Mountains.

The blaze had the potential to destroy homes in several townships from Bullaburra to Blaxland.

Fires were burning in a ring from Yamba in the state's north, Eurobodalla in the far
south and Narromine in the central west.

North of Sydney, a fire near Gosford had broken containment lines and was now running
towards the Kariong.

Wollongong Emergency Control Centre spokeswoman Neryl East said 250 scouts were taken
from the Appin area to the Wollongong Entertainment Centre. The remainder went to Sydney.

She said Wollongong, like the Sydney metropolitan area, was this morning covered in
a thick blanket of smoke.

"It's absolutely shrouded in smoke, there's very little wind at the moment (and) the
atmosphere is quite eerie, very thick and grey," she said.

A fire threatening Mt Kembla, west of Wollongong, was close to being under control
and no evacuations had been necessary from that area, Ms East said.

The F6 freeway has been reopened but Appin Road is now closed to traffic.

In Helensburgh, north of the city, the fire threat has abated but residents are still
faced with health issues after electricity and water problems in the area.

Some residents yesterday were allowed to return to the area under escort to inspect
the damage to their homes and Ms East said the same arrangements would be made for others
today.

However, home-owners were being asked to stay away from the area until they could return
home permanently.

Weather forecasters believe Sunday will be the most critical day with temperatures
expected to peak at about 39 degrees and be coupled with fresh to strong north-easterly
winds.

AAP nf/ph

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW SECOND DAYLEAD

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